Factory Output Rises for Fifth Straight Month

Washington, DC, Jan. 17, 2014 --  U.S. factory output rose for a fifth straight month in December, according to the Federal Reserve.

The government said that factory production rose 0.4% in December. That follows gains of 0.6% in both November and October.

Autos rose 1.8% last month and 10.4% year over year.

Production of appliances, furniture,and carpeting all grew in December.

Factory orders climbed 1.8% in November, and factories added jobs for the fifth straight month in December.